Fire-escape



(No Model.) BERG. 3' Sheets-Sheet 1.

' FIRE ESCAPE. No. 456,132. Patented'Jul'y 21,1891.

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(No Model'.) s Sheets-ShQt 2.

- J. BERG.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 456,132. Patented Ju1y'2l, 1891.

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-(No Model.)

' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J..BERG, FIRE ESGAPE.

Patented-July 21 1891.

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a n 15 PETERS on, name I U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BERG, or MORGAN PARK, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,132, dated July 21,1891.

Application filed November 10,1890. Serial No. 370,844. (No model.)

, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BERG, a citizen of the United States, residingat Morgan Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus to be used as ameans of rapid descent from the upper stories of buildings in case offire or other causes.

Heretofore the means of escape from buildings in case of fire have beenextremely perilous to persons forced to resort to their use. I havedesigned an apparatus which may be quickly adjusted to an open windowwhen its use is necessary, having a car that is antomatically returnedto its starting-point, thus making it possible for a number of personsto descend from the same story of a building by the same means in a veryshort space of time.

In the drawings which'form a part of the specification, Figure 1represents an interior elevation of a wall, showing my improvedapparatus applied thereto and a window-aperture in the wall. Fig. 2represents an exterior elevation of a wall, showing a windowaperture andthe relative position thereto of my improved apparatus. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view taken through a wall, showing my improvedapparatus in side elevation. Fig. i is a sectional detail of aspring-roller.

With reference to the drawings, A represents the wall, B thewindow-aperture, and O the floor.

The main frame of the apparatus is formed by the-vertical strips D andthe horizontal rods E, whose bent ends 0 are seated in keepers F, saidkeepers being secured to the interior side of the wall. Theguiding-cables G carry a bar H at their lower ends and pass upwardlythrough apertures '5 in the bowshaped bottom I of car or basket J,thence through the eyes j, having their upper ends secured to sheaves kon a rotatable shaft K, journaled in strips I). Secured to the car orbasket J are cables L, whose upper ends are secured to spring controlledrollers or sheaves M, said rollers or sheaves being rotatably mountedupon hinged strips N, whose upper ends are pivotally secured to slottedguides O, which guides are adjustably secured to strips D by studs 0.Clamps P surround cables G, and may be made of rubber or any othersuitable material. The object of these clamps is to provide meanswhereby a person its burden, will return to the upward limit of itstravel upon the guiding-cables through the action of thespringcontrolled rollers or sheaves M.

, In construction non-combustible material will be used, the frame partsbeing made preferably of iron. The cables may be either wire or chains,and the car may be made of wire fabric. I do not limitmyself to theexact form of construction shown in the drawings, as changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim j 1. An apparatus to be used as a means of descent from theupper stories of buildings, said apparatus consisting of a frame hingedto the interior side of a wall, said frame adapted to be swung upon .itshinges, whereby to cause the apparatus to be brought before an aperturein the wall, a car suspended by cables from spring controlled rollers,which rollers are rotatably secured in an ad- 3' ustable part of saidframe, and cables whereby the car is guided in the downward and upwardcourse of its travel, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus to be used as a means of descent from the upper storiesof buildings, said apparatus comprising a suitable swinging frame havinga rotatable shaft journaled therein, said shaft bearing sheaves or drumsupon which guiding-cables are secured, said cables having their oppositeends secured to a bar, and a car having a flexible bottom adapted toimpinge the cables in its descent, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus to be used as a means of descent from the upper storiesof buildings, said apparatushaving, in combination with a hinged frame,a car suspended by cables from spring-controlled rollers, cables wherebythe car is guided in its downward and upward travel, and clamps wherebyto grip the guiding-cables, substantially as described.

JOHN BERG.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK C. GooDWIN, N. M. BOND.

